There has been a trend among some Christians to loudly proclaim their faith while denigrating others. Is that being Christ-like? No, it isn't. There is no reward on Heaven for the loudest among us, who compete to be the "most Christian of Christians."
It is wonderful to bring others to Christ—that is our duty—but not in order to show off or mislead them. It is great to share our faith in the Lord, but only if it is true and not some cloak put on to attempt to shield ourselves from criticism. We cannot make ourselves blameless by loudly proclaiming our faith while belittling individuals or groups of people that we think are wrong or "beneath" us. That is arrogance, not faith. That is being a bully, not a Christian. (Besides, in Luke 18:14, Jesus said, "People who exalt themselves will be degraded, and people who humble themselves will be exalted.”)
The apostle Paul wrote about the ways in which we, as Christians, should conduct ourselves. In Galatians 5 verses 13-15, he wrote:1
"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other."
Later, in the same chapter in verses 19-21, Paul identifies acts of the flesh in which Christians must not indulge.
"The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."
Why, then, would any Christian engage in any one of these acts? For self-aggrandizement? Perhaps. Have some of us been led astray by worldly things? We must truly ask ourselves if our purpose is to spread the love of Christ or do feed our own self ambition:, to promote ourselves above others, sow seeds of discord, instigate hate, or stir the flames of jealousy. If our motive is not to spread the love of Christ, we are being misguided by the the wrongheadedness of our mission.
In verses 22-23, Paul identifies the fruit of the Spirit as "love, joy, peace, long-suffering (patience in the face of adversity), gentleness, goodness, faith, humility, and self-control." In verse 25 he says that if we live in the Spirit (as true Christians do), then we must also walk in the Spirit. In other words, if we profess to be Christians and dedicate our lives to Christ, we must act like Christians and do the true work of Christians and not immerse ourselves in the way of the world. Finally, in verse 26, Paul leaves us with this message: "Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another."
If you think Christianity is about provoking others for any reason, including jealousy, revenge, contempt, boredom, or to indulge your own selfish desire to feel superior or right, then you have been misled. I encourage you to read what Christ said and how He lived His life while He walked this earth and to read about the work of the early Christians in Acts and the letters written by the apostles in the other books of New Testament.
1NIV Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©2011 by Biblica, Inc.®